Kari is hosting a fabulous blog party over at http://artsymama.blogspot.com/. The party is to celebrate the new Somerset Special Publication Artful Blogging, so the theme is crafty tutorials and posts. So I decided to show a little about my thought process in how I make the shirts that have become a hot seller here in the Pioneer Valley.
My husband and I order the shirts wholesale through American Apparel (sweatshop-free!) and then embellish them. I love this shirt and so do all the customers. It is flattering on just about everyone.
This shirt was first screened. We either screen or stencil depending on how complicated the design is. All of our images come from photographs taken by us and then made into either a screen or stencil. Making screens and stencils is a little complicated to describe so I won't go into it now but there are TONS of tutorials online for you to have fun with. In brief, we specifically use the Live Trace function in InDesign CS2 to make the photos into the silhouette form you see. Then we may change it around and clean it up on Photoshop.
This shows the screen used next to the image it produces. We use Speedball screenprinting ink for our screening and stenciling.
And up close of the emulsion on the screen.
On this shirt I decided to do a decorative top stitch on the sleeve. I love this sparkling metallic thread but it breaks a lot in the machine so a sleeve is a small safe distance to go without the thread snapping!
Machine setting...on stretch it makes a cool vine-like pattern. In the future I would love a machine that does a bunch of decorative stitches, but I like this one a lot.
The subtle glistening on the 3/4 length sleeve.
Another popular embellishment I like to add is sequins. I really go for a subtle but very intentional attention to detail.
My goal is to make it look like a fairy has sprinkled pixie dust on the wearer's shoulder. If the sequins are on the back of the shoulder I add one sequin just over the front of the shoulder so you get a glimpse of it from the front (and vice versa).
The final product.
It is all very subtle which makes it not flashy but special and fun. Between the details and the fit of the shirts, I am told they are much loved by customers. Soon they will be available on Etsy! (I have been tearing out ceilings and cabinets at the new house, so I will hopefully get to Etsy in the next week!)
These are the tags that adorn the shirts...just a little added bonus for the customer!
And the GIVEAWAY...leave a comment on this post by the end of Friday and I will pull one name to receive this SHIRT (or one like it in your size, of course!). Good luck and thanks for checking it out!
Thank you Kari for hosting this amazing party! You rock!
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35 comments:
Wow, this is just so beyond cool!!! Please put my name in the drawing. I would love to win one:) Thanks so much for joining in the party. Hope you're having fun.
Cheers
Kari
This is soooo awesome!! How in the world am i only the 2nd comment? Screen printing is just fasinating! But even more fasinating is a husband a wife team! I love when couples create works of art as a team! It's amazing!
Craft on!
Jenipher
This shirt is so cool. I love it.
I love your shirts and this is a great tutorial! I think it is awesome that the screens and stencils all come from your own photos. That is amazing!
VERRRRRA cool shirt and process!!! spiritthing@comcast.net
Fabulous shirt, I'd love to enter the the drawing!
WONderful! I've recently learned to screenprint but haven't been brave enough to try it on fabric..YET!
Thanks for sharing the process. Your shirt is beautiful and I would love to win it... Looking forward to your etsy too.
Jess - very cool to see the entire process of your printing on the shirt....love seeing that screen propped up and your stitching details. primo post!
Oh my, I love your shirt! Very cool!
Thanks for sharing how you personalize the shirts. Love the "sprinkling of pixie dust" on the shoulder. What a great touch!
Wow that is great. Put me in the draw,
Love your shirts.... Great tutorial! karin a creativechaos.typepad.com
Oh my gosh, that is soooo coool! I would love to learn screen printing!
But the shirt is delicious and I would be the hottest momma in my town sportin' that ;)
I'm going crazy checking out also these amazing blogs with today's party and yes! I love that shirt! So creative!
I love the shirt and what a fun tutorial. Please enter me to win one of your fabulous shirts:)
Gorgeous shirt. Thanks for all the pictures and steps. I've always wanted to screen print. Awesome that you and your husband create together.
Have a wonderful day.
WoW your shirt is fabulous. Thanks for sharing and for having a giveaway... fingers crossed! LindaSonia (baddabinda@yahoo.com)
LOVE this shirt! Thanks for sharing your process! Please add me to your drawing... it's gorgeous!
i came to find you to tell you about the letters
and find this kickass tutorial. i had been planning on doing some printing when i get my garage back (long story) in a month...and this is just tres cool.
the sparkly letters are to be found at michael's and i have even seen them at target.
please put me in the drawing as well. ;)
I have always wanted to do this. I think though I best admire from a distance. So much talent required here!
Love screen-printed tees! This one is such a great cut. Love it.
thank you for offering this amazing giveaway--you are truly talented!--krista
This is amazing, trully original! Thank you for sharing
Jess, I followed your blog through a link on Kari's; your T-shirt designs are amazing! Thank you for offering such a great giveaway, and I would love to be considered.
Have a great day-
Jen
What a gorgeous shirt! Thanks for the tutorial!
I LOVE your shirt, but I already HAVE a B&J Designs shirt, so I'll let someone else win this one. Miss you!
It's fascinating to see all the steps to that precious tshirt. Would love to win one! Carol
What a fabulous shirt! I would love to be entered for a chance to win one of your beautiful shirts! And thanks so much for sharing the process involved in creating it!
Beautiful work! I would be soooo happy if I were so lucky to win!
Amazing work, never made screen prints, just ordinary prints. Loved your altered books as well1 I'll be back!
I love your shirts! I can't wait for your Etsy store to open! Thank you for sharing your technique.
Good luck with the new house!
Christy
What a brilliant tutorial, I love the design on the shirt - its really elegant.
Thanks for your blog comment today, I really appreciated it!!!
I am still making my way through the blog party participants, Such fun!
This is a neat idea -- especially love the stitching around the sleeves.
Lovely shirts, thanks for showing us how it is done. Please add me into your draw :)
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